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Definitions of Dental/Surgical Terms

Jaw Surgery:

Jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic (or-thog-NATH-ik) surgery, corrects irregularities of the jaw bones and realigns the jaws and teeth to improve the way they work. Making these corrections may also improve your facial appearance.

Bone Grafting:

A surgical procedure where an incision is made in your gum to gain access to the bone beneath it, and then grafting material is added. Most often, the grafting material is processed bone minerals around which your body will actually deposit new bone cells.

Tissue Grafting:

Sinus Lift:

A sinus lift is a surgical procedure which aims to increase the amount of bone in the upper jaw, in the area of the premolar and molar teeth, by lifting the lower sinus membrane and placing a bone graft to keep the sinus in it's lifted position.

When a tooth is lost the vacant tooth socket collapses as it heals leaving a toothless area, termed a ridge. This collapse causes a loss in both height and width of the surrounding bone. When an upper molar or premolar is lost, the maxillary sinus pneumatizes in this region which further diminishes the thickness of the underlying bone. This can lead to a loss in volume of bone that is available for dental implants. The goal of the sinus lift is to graft extra bone into the sinus lifted area, so more bone is available to support a dental implant. It is also necessary to lift the sinus so the implant being placed will not pierce the sinus.

Diagnostic Imaging:

We have the capability to 2D and 3D diagnostic imaging, we can obtain precise digital 3D models for applications, including maxillary sinus & inferior alveolar nerve location, and dental implant planning.

Dental Implant:

Think of dental implants as artificial tooth roots, similar in shape to screws. When dental implants are placed in your jawbone, they bond with your natural bone. They become a sturdy base for supporting one or more artificial teeth, called crowns.

Expose & Bond:

The gum tissue on top of an impacted tooth will be lifted to expose the hidden tooth underneath. After the tooth is exposed an orthodontic bracket will be attached to that tooth. The bracket is connected to a chain. The chain will then be connected with a band of rubber to the patients orthodontic arch wire. The patients orthodontist will use this chain to start pulling the tooth into place.

IV Sedation:

Drugs will be administered though a vein, usually in your arm or hand, so you can sleep through the whole procedure.

Wisdom Teeth:

Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars (sometimes referred to as 3rd's) in the back of your mouth. They usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25, and they're spotted on x-rays. Most people have them removed.

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